If you live in rented accommodation
Did you know that if you live in rented or shared accommodation you are seven times more likely to have a fire?
The increase in risk is mostly due to a greater number of people living individual lifestyles. Follow our fire safety advice below to help reduce your fire risk.
Things you can do to make yourself safer:
- fit a smoke alarm in your immediate living accommodation and testing it each week
- keep all exits clear - even in communal areas
- plan an escape route and make sure everyone in the household knows how to escape
- avoid overloading sockets – keep to one plug per socket
- use a proper adaptor when using a non UK electrical appliance – never put two pronged plugs into three pronged sockets
- don’t use heaters for drying clothes and keep them a safe distance away from furnishings and curtains
- if you smoke make sure your cigarettes are put out properly after you have finished with them
- don't cook if you have been drinking alcohol your concentration levels are lower - the risk of accidents is greater in the kitchen if you have been drinking
- take care with candles and tea lights - avoid placing them on or near materials that could burn or catch fire – make sure they are in an appropriate holder
- keep fire doors closed – they help to slow down the spread of fire and will give you extra time to get out
- close inside doors at night to stop fire from spreading
For information about your landlord’s responsibilities visit www.direct.gov.uk.
This safety advice is offered as guidance only. If in doubt, Get out, Stay out and get the Fire and Rescue Service out!
